Chapter Twelve, Moria

The Fellowship choked on the falling dust from the cave in that they had narrowly managed to dodge. Neville and Evelina cleared it with a wave of their hands allowing the Fellowship to breathe freely again. "We now have but one choice," Gandalf said as he banged his staff on the ground illuminating the gem that sat atop his staff. "To face the long dark journey of Moria. Be on your guard, there are older and fouler things in the deep places of the world." He continued as he lead them away from the destroyed entrance. "Are you alright Evelina?" Sam asked worriedly as she was still in Aragorn's arms.

"I'm fine Sam." Evelina said smiling at the Hobbit. "Aragorn's just being over protective." She continued with a roll of her eyes, but the smile on her face showed she wasn't really annoyed with him, in fact she buried herself closer to him her head resting in the crook of his neck. Aragorn looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms smiling lovingly at her. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have found his One and for her to be such a wonderful woman she was beautiful inside and out and he didn't know what he did to deserve her but he wasn't going to ruin anything, he just sent his thanks up to the Vallar he didn't care he had to share her with his friend and someone else he would treasure her, her godson and any children they may have.

"Is she alright?" Legolas asked concerned as usually Evelina would protest about being carried. Aragorn looked back down at the love of their lives only to see that she had fallen asleep in his arms, carefully so he wouldn't drop her or wake her up Aragorn moved her hair out of her face kissing her forehead. He smiled as she let out a sigh of content as she moved as close as she could to his chest, one hand curling into his tunic. "I think so. It might just be the lack of sleep catching up on her, but we'll stop for the night and ask Neville to check her over." He assured his friend. 'It was about time they stopped for the night anyway.' Aragorn thought as he looked back at the Hobbits who were yawning and dragging their feet.

Nodding his head in agreement Legolas called out to Gandalf telling him they should rest here for the night as Evelina was already asleep and the Hobbits were well on their way to joining her. After much debate Gandalf reluctantly agreed to stop for the night, but they went into the room off to their right that surprisingly didn't have any bodies in there for what they could see and the doors were still in relatively good condition that they could hide them from unfriendly eyes. "I'll had the same enchantments that Eve and I always add that way no one will find us and we'll have plenty of warning if something comes too close." Neville told Gandalf as he whipped out his wand and cast the enchantments.

"That should do it." Neville said to himself after ten minutes of casting all the protective enchantments twice as usually he and Evelina cast them at the same time to make them stronger, but he was satisfied that they would hold until morning and everyone could get a good night sleep without keeping watch as he had tied the Wards into the two large Ward Stones that Evelina kept in her bag. "Neville could you please check over Eve?" Legolas asked his voice strained and not taking his eyes off of his love who was being held in tightly in Aragorn's arms. "Sure. But just so you know I'm not as good at Healing Magic as Eve and Luna are." Neville said as he ran his wand over Eve muttering various charms under his breath, that none of the Company including Gandalf could understand-which the old wizard was slightly annoyed about.

Finishing the last charm Neville grabbed the piece of parchment that had appeared after he finished all of his spells, looking down at it Neville's forehead creased into a frown as he read the contents of the parchment. "What is it?" Aragorn asked worriedly pulling Evelina closer as if he could protect her from whatever is ailing her. "Eve has a twisted ankle probably from where that thing grabbed her." Neville replied evasively.
"What aren't you telling us, Neville?" Legolas asked his brow pinched on concern.
"There's no easy way to say this but Eve's slowly going into heat which means that whoever her third mate is can't live far away from here.

And there is only one place close to here that I know of." Neville said trailing off at the end as he realised what settlement was near here. "She's going into heat?" Aragorn asked shocked that neither he or Legolas noticed, but before he could start on his self hating Neville spoke once more. "Yes. I can tell from how early it is that her third mate is not in the immediate vicinity but her Kitsune can sense that he is close enough to start the early stages of her heat. You wouldn't have noticed it yet so there's no point in blaming yourself. She would have become clingy as she'd want to be near the pair of you at all times.

But it won't be exceptionally bad she'll just need contact with both of you for a small period of time that you'll barely notice, as holding her hand as you do now will be enough. However, the closer it gets to her actual heat as we get closer to her third mate the more contact she'll need from the pair of you." Neville explained.
"Will she affect the mission of this Fellowship?" Boromir asked with a slight bite to his tone.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Neville asked on edge about the look on the Gondorian's face and the tone of voice he used in regards to his sister.

"You just said that she will need more contact with Aragorn and Legolas what if we are in a battle and she comes up to them, it could mean that one of our lives are jeopardised..."
"Let me stop you right there," Neville snarled. "My sister will not jeopardise anyone or the mission of this Fellowship, yes she will need comfort as she gets nearer to her heat but she is in control, she is always in control." Neville snapped glaring at Boromir.
"How long do you think it is until she goes into heat fully?" Legolas asked though he hadn't taken his eyes off of Boromir as he glared at the man who dared to insult his One. "I can't say for certain, it could be a couple of days or a couple of weeks. But she won't go into heat until she meets her third mate and then it won't be straight away, she'll go into heat when you are someplace safe and once she knows that this new mate won't cause problems for either of you and that he'll be there for her if he can." Neville explained to them.

"Now," Gandalf said loudly causing everyone to jump as they had been enraptured in the argument between Neville and Boromir. "I think we should all get some sleep it is a long day ahead of us tomorrow and we will have an early start if we wish to make much head way on this journey, I'd rather we not stay in here any longer than we have to. Now sleep, all of you!" Gandalf ordered before he moved slightly away from the others spreading out his sleeping bag, but he was not so far away that he wouldn't be able to hear the others if they needed him. Heading his warning the others grabbed their own sleeping bags and settled down for the night for what would surely be a restless night. Before they settled down Aragon and Legolas made sure Evelina was wrapped tightly in her sleeping bag and blankets before they too settled down on either side of her, satisfied that she was safely between them they joined their One in sleep.

* * *

"The wealth of Moria was not in gold it in jewels but in Mithril." Gandalf told them the next morning as he lifted his staff up higher illuminating the mine shaft beside them that lit up like thousands of stars were shinning below them. "Bilbo had an old shirt made of Mithril rings that Thorin gave him." Gandalf continued as they moved on.
"Ahhh!" Gimli cried. "That was a Kingly gift."
"Yes," agreed Gandalf. "I never told him but the value of that shirt is worth more than the value of the Shire thrice over."

Evelina shook her head at Gandalf's bluntness and obliviousness it was quite plain to see, at least to her, what had happened to that shirt as she saw a pinched expression come over Frodo's face from in front of her where he was walking beside Sam. "Are you okay, Legolas?" Evelina asked concerned as she noticed the strained expression on his face. "I do not like being underground." He answered truthfully, smiling when she took his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. Not everyone likes the same thing, and I understand why you don't like being underground." Evelina said smiling softy at him.

"I'm scared of spiders. As when I was twelve Ron and I went into the Forbidden Forest to help a friend of ours only to end up nearly getting eaten by giant spiders. I'm also scared of Dementors, they're horrid creatures that feed of off someone's happiness until they're left with nothing but their worst experiences. They make me relive my parents death." Evelina whispered.
"I can't say that I blame you for those fears." Aragorn said as he took her other hand and softly squeezed it much like she did with Legolas. "But if you ever need to talk know that we're here for you." Evelina smiled in thanks and kissed both of their cheeks.

They continued like that for awhile, quietly talking amongst themselves as they got to know each other and Aragorn and Legolas asking her about Teddy, that is until they were brought out of their own little bubble by Gandalf announcing that he had no memory of the place they were in that led off in three different directions. "How long do you think it be to Gandalf remembers?"
Evelina heard Pippin ask Merry.
"I don't know Pip." Merry answered with a sigh.
"Merry?" Pippin asked.
"What?" Merry asked sort of snappishly.

"I'm hungry." Pippin whispered.
"Here Pippin." Evelina said getting up and handing him an apple. "That should tie you over until we can find somewhere safe to eat."
"Thank you." Pippin said gratefully as he happily bit into the red juicy apple. Evelina returned to her seat between Legolas and Aragorn, the latter who was smoking in his pipe. "Could you please tell us more about Teddy?" Legolas asked suddenly. "I have joy been around any children as Elves do not have children often as it is rare for us with our long lives and I know Aragorn has not had any firsthand experience with children, due to his Ranger duties." Legolas told her when he saw her confusion.

Realising that they were worried about how to handle Teddy she smiled softly at the pair of them. "I was worried about getting everything wrong when I became Teddy's sole caretaker, though I had help from Andy. But she told me something important; 'that I should never be afraid to make a mistake, as all parents make mistakes and you learn on the job and as long as you learn from these mistakes that's all that matters.' I was still nervous, still am but Teddy is a sweet little boy and I'm sure he'd love the pair of you. As long as you treat him well and like he's your own I won't have a problem.

Even if I ended up getting pregnant from this heat, but I'm hoping as its my first and the world isn't exactly safe at the moment that I won't just yet." Evelina told them but they could sense the anxiety in her words at the end as she looked at her hands in her lap while biting her lip. She felt a calloused hand lift up her chin that she knew belonged to Aragorn. "Listen to me, Meleth-nîn." Aragorn said firmly. "We will cross that road when we come to it, but if you do end up pregnant from your heat, know that Legolas and I as well as your other mate will be there her you always. It will be a gift from the Valor as it will bring us more hope in these dark times." Aragorn told her before he kissed her passionately.

When they pulled back Evelina only had a few seconds to catch her breath before Legolas too was giving her his most passionate kiss, agreeing with Aragorn without words as he poured all of his love and devotion into the kiss. "Ah! It's that way!" They heard Gandalf announce causing them to break apart, Neville was surprised that he chose to say it then, but he realised it was probably to save Evelina from further embarrassment for which he was thankful. "He's remembered." Merry cheered relieved as he put out his pipe.

"No," Gandalf answered with a small smirk on his face. "The air doesn't smell as foul and less like death down here. If in doubt Merriadoc, always follow your nose." Gandalf said tapping his nose as he led the Fellowship down the slope. Once they reached the bottom of the slope Gandalf muttered about risking a little more light, lightning up the place around them the Fellowship gasped as they saw they were standing in a rather impressive hall. "Behold, the great City of Dwarrowdelf." Gandalf announced.
"Well, there's an eyeopener that's for sure." Sam muttered as he looked around in awe.

Evelina snapped her head over to Gimli her sensitive hearing picking up his gasp as he recognised a room that led of off the Hall. "Gimli!" Evelina cried as she raced after him the rest of the Fellowship rushing after them. Evelina slowed down to a walk as she saw Gimli kneeling beside a white marbled tomb, sobbing. The tomb sad the same stone as that of her parent's. Slowly so she wouldn't startle him Evelina knelt down before him and laid her arm across his broad shoulders offering what little comfort she could, as the rest of the Fellowship entered the room.

Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Gandalf come over to the tomb to look at the runes that were neatly carved into the surface of the tomb. "Here lies Balin Son of Fundin." Gandalf read out heavily. "Lord of Moria. He is dead then, it is as I feared."
"I'm sorry for your loss Gimli." Evelina said softly to the sobbing Dwarf crouched beside her. She frowned when she saw Gandalf hand his staff and hat to Pippin as he stopped down to the skeleton sat propped up against the tomb and gently pried an age worn book from the bony hands. "We need to leave, we cannot linger." Legolas said hastily but Gandalf ignored him as he opened the book and brushed off the dirt and dust as he began to read.

As Gandalf finished reading there was a loud crash behind them causing all of them to jump in fright and to whirl around only to see a frightened Pippin standing in front of a Mine shaft where a headless skeleton sat precariously on the enshrined only for said skeleton to fall backwards down the well banging and crashing as it went. When the banging finally stopped after what seemed an age they waited anxiously song with baited breath as they waited for any sign of the enemy. But when none splashed they let out a sigh of relief, while Gandalf spilt too harshly to Pippin in Evelina's opinion.

However, their relief was short lived as they heard the base thumping of drums being hit and loud numerous high pitched screeches. "Orcs!" Legolas said in disgust as he pulled out his bow and arrow. "Stay close to Gandalf." Aragorn said as he pushed the Hobbits back behind Gandalf as Boromir ran to the door only narrowly missing the two arrows that were shot at him and we're now imbedded in the door. "They have a Cave troll." He said with false enthusiasm as he and Aragorn closed the doors, wedging them shut with the old weapons that Legolas threw at them. "Oh, let Eve handle it." Neville said with an evil smirk. "She's good at knocking out trolls."

"Nev!" Eve shouted as she and Neville pulled out their own bow and swords respectively as they came forward to stand in between Legolas and Aragorn who both had their bows out, arrows already notched. Boromir stood a little to their right his sword and shield at the ready. "Now is not the time!" Evelina sighed when Legolas and Aragorn sent her worried looks. "Let them come!" Gimli grieved from where he stood on top of his cousin's tomb. "There is still one Dwarf in Moria, who still draws breath!" The barricade didn't last long as it shattered under the sheer force of the Orcs that came spilling through the now broken doors.

Neville and Evelina shot curse after curse at the Orcs and the troll as well as using their weapons. Evelina noticed that Legolas and Aragorn were sticking as close as they could to her during the fight which she would be having words about. She smiled slightly as she heard Sam say he thought he was getting the hang of it as he took out Orc after Orc while only using his frying pan. Her smile soon turned into a growl as she saw Aragorn go flying across the room curtesy of the troll that was trying to reach Frodo with its spear to stab him. Killing the Orc she was fighting in one motion, Eve ran towards Frodo hoping to stop the troll before it reached Frodo, who was being backed into a corner along with Merry and Pippin.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Evelina shouted causing the spear, that was just about to stab Frodo, to rise into the air. Stupidly the troll looked up to see where it had gone only for Evelina to release the spell causing the spear to fall straight through the troll's head killing it instantly. Evelina grabbed the pillar next to her for support as the floor shook as the troll crashed to the floor, she sipped the back of her head across her cheek as she felt something warm and sticky on it, only to see that it was blood. Her blood. "Eve? Eve, are you alright?" Aragorn asked as he held a clean cloth out to her that he'd no doubt gotten from Neville. "I'm fine Aragorn. I should he asking you that." Evelina said smiling tightly at him.

"I'm fine." Aragorn said as he kissed her forehead. "Come, Frodo, on your feet." He said as he helped Frodo up of off the flood where he'd skunk to due to his fear. "Thank you, Eve." Frodo said gratefully as he tried in vain to brush the dust off of his clothes. "Now that everyone is alright we must hurry to the bridge of Khazad-Dum." Gandalf told them as he placed his hat back on his head but kept his sword and staff held tightly in his hands. They ran out of the Chamber and had only managed to get halfway across the Hall when they were surrounded by hundreds of Orcs. Just as they were preparing themselves for another fight, the air suddenly became very close and hot as a rumbling growl sounded and tbd end of the Hall was lit up with flames.

Whatever, it was Neville and Evelina knew it could be nothing good for all of the Orcs that surrounded them screeched with fear and ran away as fast as they could. "What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked a slight tremor to his voice. Gandalf closed his eyes in recognition. "A Balrog." He answered softly, Legolas's eyes widened in fear and he quickly shared a worried look with Aragorn as they looked at her Evelina with fearful looks upon their dirty faces. "A Demon if the Ancient World. Swords are no more use here. Run!" Gandalf shouted as he ran in the direction of the bridge the rest of the Fellowship following his lead.

Neville and Legolas just managed to grab onto Boromir's arms before he went over the edge of the broken stairs, once he was safety away from the edge the Fellowship carried on running only to come to another set of broken stairs. Legolas went first jumping over the small gap between the staircase shortly followed by Gandalf and then Boromir with Merry and Pippin in his arms. Neville threw Sam across the gap to Legolas who skilfully caught him and jumped across with Frodo safety held in his arms, only for the staircase to crumble leaving a slightly bigger gap.

As Aragorn was about to toss Gimli across the gap he held up his hand stopping Aragorn in his tracks. "Nobody tosses a Dwarf." Gimli said gruffly before jumping. However, his short stature was not able to make the jump fully as he landed precariously on the edge and only Legolas's quick reflexes saved him as he grabbed Gimli by his beard only for said Dwarf to shout, "Not the beard!" Just as Aragorn and Evelina were about to jump the steps they were standing in crumbled away leaving them to scrabble up the stairs before they fell.

Once they were able to stand on their own feet once more without the steps falling out from under their feet, the gap was too wide for them to cross and the Balrog was gaining on them and now the Orcs had caught up and were shooting Black Arrows at them from above. Neville and Legolas quickly whipped out their bow and arrows as Aragorn and Evelina tried to think of a way across as the roars of the Balrog had come closer. It was as the Balrog let out a deafening roar that a large piece of rock broke away from the ceiling and crashed into the staircase just behind Aragorn and Evelina, causing the stairs to tilt dangerously.

Aragorn instructed Evelina to lean forward as the stairs continued to tilt backwards and forwards. Just as the states were tilting towards where the Fellowship were standing, helped by them leaning forwards. Aragorn gathered Evelina into his arms and jumped the remaining gap, landing safely on the other side. "Quickly now! To the bridge! Fly!" Gandalf shouted. As they reached the bridge they had to run in single file as it was too narrow and it was not until they were halfway across that they heard an unearthly roar close at hand. "Keep running!" Gandalf yelled to the others, it was only after they were all safe on the other side did he turn to face the Balrog. Evelina realising what he was about to do turned and ran back to Gandalf, ignoring the others as they tried to stop her.

As she got closer to Gandalf her magic swirling around her and her tails twitching rapidly with her ire, she saw that Gandalf was talking to the Balrog, but she couldn't hear exactly what he was saying. But as she got closer she heard him shout clearly, "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!" As he crossed his sword and staff above his head just before he quickly brought his staff down and banged it on the bridge, a white dome omitting from his staff and surrounding him and Evelina who was now standing beside him facing the Balrog head on. Realising what was going to fallen next as the Balrog raised its firery whip, she quickly released a burst of her magic allowing it to infuse with Gandalf's to make the dome stronger.

Just in time for not a moment later the Balrog's whip struck the shield with a terrible force causing the de to groan and shudder under the strain but it didn't shatter thankfully, well at least for the moment it was holding ad the Balrog continued to hit the dome which was groaning under the pressure. Evelina and Gandalf both knew they would have to release the spell less they tire themselves out physically and magically. "Go back to the others." Gandalf told Evelina sternly but she just shook her head, not taking her eyes off the Balrog. Gandalf sighed at her stubbornness. "Go back to the shadow." Gandalf hissed as the Balrog raised his firery whip once more as they released the spells and jumping back a few steps.

Once they were out of direct line of fire Gandalf raised his staff once more as Evelina raised her hand out in front of her and her swirl in the other hand at the ready. "YOU. SHALL. NOT. PASS!!" Gandalf shouted as he brought his staff down on the bridge in front of them. For a moment nothing happened, that is until the Balrog stepped towards them with a malicious smirk upon its face only the the bridge to crumble underneath it sending the Balrog into the pit.

Out of the corner of her eye Evelina saw Gandalf relax and start to turn away but Evelina would not relax until she saw its unmoving body like Moody, her dad, Tonks and Remus had taught her, Neville and Luna. Just as she was about to warn Gandalf not to turn away the whip struck out of the out as quick as a snake and wrapped around Gandalf's ankle pulling him to the edge of the broken bridge. "Gandalf!" Evelina and the others shouted as Evelina dived down onto her front and grabbed onto his hands trying to pull him back onto the bridge.

"Go back to the others Evelina." Gandalf grunted from the strain.
"No! I'm not leaving you!" Evelina cried tears starting to pool in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Gandalf looked her in the eyes regret and sorrow shinning in his crystal blue ones and in that moment Evelina knew exactly what he was going to do. He looked over her shoulder at the others, "Fly you fools!" Gandalf gasped as he let go of her hands falling down into the pit as the whip was still wrapped around his ankle. "Nooooooo! Gandalf!" Evelina shouted, she could hear the others shouting but it was like hearing them from an end of a tunnel where you could make little sense of what was being said, all she cared about was trying to reach Gandalf.

She desperately hoped that Gandalf had grabbed onto a ledge further down, as age went to peer over the edge she felt send grab get and pick her up. She screamed and went to last out with her magic only to recognise Aragorn's strong arms holding get tightly to his chest. "Shhh. I have you Meleth-nîn." Aragorn soothed her as he carried her out of Moria dodging the arrows the Orcs were shooting at them. "I tried. I tried Aragorn. He wouldn't listen, I'm sorry. I should have tried harder." Evelina said sorrowfully as she blinking her eyes rapidly as they came out of Moria and into the sun for the first time in days.

"No, Meleth-nîn." Aragorn said sternly as he sat her on a rock. "It's not your fault you tried to help Gandalf abc no one here if anyone else will fault you for that. Now are you hurt?" He asked with concern as he looked her over as he tried to find anything wrong with his love. "It's just a few scrapes and bruises. I'll be fine." Evelina assured. "Is everyone else alright?" She asked concerned.
"Everyone is fine my love. Just a few scrapes and bruises that can be dealt with when we are somewhere safe. I think the worse wound for all of us is losing Gandalf and nearly losing you." Aragorn assured her, he kissed her softly on the lips before parting regretfully.

"Neville, Legolas, Boromir. Get them up." Aragorn called to the others though he didn't leave Evelina's side. "Come on Gimli." He called as the dwarf just continued to sit there starring at the entrance to the Mine. "Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir calmed indignantly.
"No," Neville said as he helped Gimli up and stopped him from returning to the Mine. "By nightfall this place will be swarming with Orcs." After making sure Gimli wouldn't return to the Mine he turned and helped a sobbing Sam to his feet as Evelina helped an equally distraught Merry and Pippin to their feet.

"We need to reach the woods of Lothlórien before the moon rises." Aragorn says as he wiped off his sword. "Frodo!" Legolas called as he saw the Hobbit standing off in the distance by himself. He turned around and slowly made his way back to them. "We need to leave now if we are going to make it to Lothlórien before nightfall." Aragorn told them as they gathered their things and set off for a long and quiet journey to Lothlórien.

End of chap 12!
Translation:
*Elvish: Meleth-nîn. English:my love.